Landscape award winners feted

EAST COUNTY  Helix Water District customers Tere Trout and Jonathan Becket of La Mesa were among a group of winners from around San Diego County in the 2013 Water Agency Landscape Contest.

The winners were awarded a $250 gift certificate from a local nursery, a $250 gift certificate from Home Depot and a complimentary membership to the San Diego Horticultural Society.

A ceremony was held May 18 at The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College to honor the winning entries of the annual contest, which also included: from the city of San Diego, Adam and Ashley Feist; from the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, James and Kay Vincent; from the Otay Water District, John and Geralyn Orcutt; from the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Steve and Gayle Baile; from the San Dieguito Water District, Patti and Mike Gollong; from the Sweetwater Authority, Barbara Whelan; from the Vallecitos Water District, Stephen Rubin; and from the Vista Irrigation District, John and Rhonda McCoy.

With an expansive 1.7-acre lot, Trout and Becket have changed their landscaping over the past 13 years, focusing on low water-use-plants, according to Helix Water District spokeswoman Kate Breece. Particularly during the past two years, they have been drawn more and more to drought tolerant landscapes they observed on garden tours and noticed on Pinterest.

Principally enjoying succulents, the couple now exchanges cuttings with adjacent home owners—as the desire for more water-efficient landscaping has spread throughout the neighborhood. The property has a pool used by their three children, and also a pond, which is a natural seep from the surrounding area runoff. The couple recycles the pond water to help irrigate the landscape.

While the pond attracts an enjoyable variety of birds and waterfowl, it also serves as a focal point for their backyard activities, including the use of a landscaped "chess board," Breece said.

The contest judges considered several elements of water-wise landscaping in choosing winners, including overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection, design, appropriate maintenance and efficient methods of irrigation.

Photos of all the winning landscapes can be found at landscapecontest.com